Knife assault
Two charged in July 31 incident
4:54 p.m., Aug. 1, 2011--Newark Police have arrested two men in connection with a knife assault early Sunday, July 31, in the parking lot of the Deer Park Tavern, 108 West Main St., Newark.
Earlier in the evening a man and woman from Middletown were looking for a space in parking lot, and the man exchanged words with three men, which prompted an argument. The two groups parted and both went into the tavern, and throughout the evening the groups continued to exchange words.
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Shortly after 1 a.m., both groups left the tavern and a fight broke out between the Middletown man and the three men. During the fight, the first man punched one of the three and knocked him unconscious. The fight then broke up and the two groups parted ways.
As the Middletown couple was driving out of the parking lot, the other two men went to a vehicle where they retrieved large knives from the trunk. They confronted the man who was driving, and then the men began swinging their knives, causing severe lacerations to the man's arms and hands and to the woman's left arm.
The victims drove away and were later stopped by a University of Delaware Police officer who saw the vehicle driving erratically on East Delaware Avenue. Both victims were taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital.
The man sustained severe lacerations to both arms and had two fingers on his left hand severed. The woman had a minor laceration on her left arm.
Police have charged Kyle J. Fletcher, 20, and Richard T. Burke, 21, both of Newark, each with two counts of first degree assault, one count of possession of a deadly weapon during commission of a felony and one count of conspiracy. Both men were committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $62,500 bail.
Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Michael Szep at 302-366-7110, ext. 136 or by email at Michael.szep@cj.state.de.us. Anonymous tips can be texted to 302NPD with the message to TIP411. Information also can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or www.tipsubmit.com, where a reward may be available.